BHIMBER (Kashmir English): Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) candidate from LA-6 constituency, Ali Shan Soni, was arrested on charges of attacking a polling station in Samahni during the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) election on Monday.
According to police, Soni has also been accused of burning ballot papers and interfering with the electoral process.
Police added that polling at the affected station was temporarily halted following the incident before it was resumed.
On the other hand, the Assistant Commissioner and the concerned SHO have also been suspended for negligence in the incident.
To check polling station-wise results from every constituency, visit Kashmir Digital’s portal: ELECTIONPORTAL.PK
Earlier, the District Returning Officer (DRO) Bhimber said that the action has been taken against clashes that broke out and that raids are underway to arrest candidates of the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) and their alleged supporters involved in the incidents.
The DRO added that 20 suspects had been arrested so far and action has been initiated against the accused under the Anti-Terrorism Act.
According to the administration, the arrested individuals belong to Punjab, adding that they spread fear and panic at polling stations and set fire to polling stations during the election process.
Earlier today, PML-N candidate Abdul Razzaq Chaudhry claimed that workers of IPP candidate Ali Shan Soni started the altercation and created a disturbance at the Darbar Baba Shadi Shaheed polling station.
The DRO confirmed that miscreants snatched a ballot box and set it on fire, adding that the box contained 232 votes. He added that a decision on whether re-polling would be held at the affected polling station would be made later.
